# Torn Between Two Worlds: The Dilemma of Staying or Returning | Sarvinoz Izzatullo qizi | TEDxTSUL Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnog7qxACkQ Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/jnog7qxACkQ Generated: 2026-02-24T17:04:55.786+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The speaker concludes that the dilemma of staying in a developed country or returning home is not a binary choice but a spectrum, emphasizing that contribution to one's home country, like Uzbekistan, is possible from anywhere, and the real challenge lies in shifting societal mindsets to value impact over physical presence and actively support both paths through engagement and collaboration. **Key Points:** - Uzbekistan ranks among the top 5 countries sending students abroad, with over 110,000 students studying internationally in 2021. - Approximately 40,000–50,000 highly educated Uzbeks face the decision of staying abroad or returning home after graduation. - The speaker advocates for rethinking the dilemma as a spectrum, asserting that contribution to the home country is possible from anywhere, meaning impact matters more than physical location. - For those choosing to stay abroad, society should foster engagement, collaboration, and recognition, rather than judging their choice. - For returnees, society needs to provide mentorship, funding, research/innovation platforms, and diaspora collaboration channels. - The El-yurt Umidi Foundation is highlighted as a great initiative supporting returnees with up to $1000 extra salary for those working in public institutions. - The ultimate goal is enabling a global Uzbek network where nation-building transcends geographical borders. ![Screenshot at 01:06: The title slide "\(Not Just\) My Story" introduces the core conflict: the question of whether to 'Stay abroad or return home?', a dilemma shared by thousands of international students, highlighting Uzbekistan's high ranking in sending students abroad.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/jnog7qxACkQ/00-01-06.jpg) **Context:** The speaker, Sarvinoz Sunnatillaeva, discusses the common dilemma faced by thousands of highly educated Uzbek students who study abroad: whether to stay in the developed country where they studied or return to their home country, Uzbekistan. She shares her personal experience, noting that while studying abroad (in Belgium, in her case) offered new ideas and experiences, the pressure to return home, combined with guilt over leaving, created a significant internal conflict, which she frames as not just her story but a widespread issue for the Uzbek diaspora. ## Detailed Analysis Sarvinoz Sunnatillaeva addresses the significant challenge faced by educated Uzbeks studying abroad: the choice between remaining overseas or returning home. She notes that Uzbekistan sends over 110,000 students abroad annually, and 40,000–50,000 highly educated individuals face this post-graduation decision. Recounting her own experience after studying in Belgium, she describes the internal conflict and the guilt felt by those who choose to stay abroad, despite achieving career goals there, because they feel they are not contributing to their homeland's development. She argues that this choice should not be viewed as a binary decision, nor should staying abroad be seen as betraying one's country. The speaker suggests that the real challenge is societal—the expectation that contribution requires physical presence. To resolve this, she proposes that society must stop judging choices and instead support both paths. For those abroad, this means fostering engagement, collaboration, and recognition; for returnees, it means providing mentorship, funding, research platforms, and strong diaspora collaboration channels. She specifically praises the El-yurt Umidi Foundation for financially supporting returnees in public institutions with an extra $1000 salary, concluding that nation-building extends beyond geographical borders by enabling a strong global Uzbek network. ### The Dilemma - Staying or Returning: A quiet morning in Ghent, Belgium, sparked the speaker's contemplation on whether to stay or return to Uzbekistan - The dilemma is shared by thousands of international students, with Uzbekistan being a top 5 country sending students abroad (110,000+ students). ### Option 1 - Returning Home (My Case): Speaker chose to return to Uzbekistan despite the societal expectation that returning after gaining foreign education (like in Belgium) is the noble path - This choice brought reverse culture shock and feelings of guilt for leaving behind opportunities. ### Option 2 - Staying Abroad (Leyla's Case): A friend, Leyla, chose to stay in Brussels, successfully pursuing her career dreams in the heart of the EU - This path often faces judgment from family and peers back home, implying betrayal or lack of contribution. ### Rethinking the Dilemma - The dilemma is not a binary choice but a spectrum; what matters is impact, not location, and individuals must stay connected and involved regardless of where they live. ### Role of Society - Society must stop judging choices and actively support both paths: fostering engagement for those abroad, and providing mentorship/resources for returnees - The core message is that 'Contribution ≠ physical presence'. ### What Government Can Do - Government plays a crucial role by creating an enabling environment, supporting programs like El-yurt Umidi (which offers financial incentives for returnees), and establishing diaspora collaboration channels. ### Final Reflection - The real question is not 'where to live' but 'how to live with purpose', emphasizing that nation-building happens through connections and impact, not just physical location. ![Screenshot at 00:08: The speaker introduces the topic by referencing a quiet morning in Ghent, Belgium, where she first contemplated the dilemma of staying abroad or returning to Uzbekistan.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/jnog7qxACkQ/00-00-08.jpg) ![Screenshot at 00:46: The slide details the scope of the issue: Uzbekistan is a top 5 country sending students abroad \(110,000+\), and 40,000–50,000 highly educated Uzbeks face this decision after graduation.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/jnog7qxACkQ/00-00-46.jpg) ![Screenshot at 01:06: Slide titled "\(Not Just\) My Story" outlines the central question and key statistics, showing a bar chart ranking countries by students studying abroad, with Uzbekistan listed.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/jnog7qxACkQ/00-01-06.jpg) ![Screenshot at 02:38: Slide illustrating Option 1: Returning Home, showing an animated person happily returning to a building symbolized as home/institution, representing the speaker's choice.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/jnog7qxACkQ/00-02-38.jpg) ![Screenshot at 06:39: Slide titled "Rethinking the Dilemma" presents the proposed solution framework: It's a spectrum, contribution comes from anywhere, and focusing on impact over location is key.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/jnog7qxACkQ/00-06-39.jpg)